Input power connector for distribution panel

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to power input housings and assemblies for power distribution panels. The power input assemblies provide separate cavities with a centerwall for the power input cables to be led into and a cover closing the cavities. The cavities allow power cables to enter through either a top open end or a bottom open end and the cover is adapted to close the other open end when installed. Alternatively, the housing can be oriented with the open ends of the cavities to the sides, permitting cables to enter through either side and the cover closing the other side.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to power input structuresfor power distribution panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Power distribution panels are generally mounted in an electronicequipment rack with other devices requiring a source of electric power.The basic function of such a distribution panel is to receive electricpower, typically DC power, from an external power source and distributethis power through a bus bar to a series of individual circuits fordelivery to the equipment mounted in the rack or in nearby equipmentracks. Typically, these individual circuits are protected by fuses orcircuit breakers. Common voltages for these panels are 24 and 48 VoltsDC. The bus bars commonly handle up to 300 amps or more and theindividual circuits are protected by circuit breakers capable ofhandling of up to 100 amps or more or by fuses capable of handling up to125 amps or more. In addition, a power distribution panel may have twoseparate bus bars, meaning the total current being supplied to a panelcould be up to 600 Amps.

[0003] The amount of electrical current being supplied to a powerdistribution panel is sufficient to cause injury to persons workingaround these panels or to adjacent devices. Protective devices orshields are desirable to guard against accidental contact with theexposed power and return current feeds linking the external powersources to the bus bars within the distribution panels. However,depending on the environment where a particular rack might be installed,these external power feeds may come from above, below or the side of thedistribution panel. A distribution panel having a power input structurecapable of being easily adapted for receiving and protecting power feedsfrom multiple directions is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a power input housing with anopen ended cavity divided by a centerwall, and a cover for the housinghaving an extension to close one of the open ends of the cavity when thecover is mounted to the housing. Another aspect of the present inventionrelates to a power input assembly including a housing with an open endedcavity divided by a centerwall into return and power chambers withconductors mounted within each chamber. A cover for the assembly isprovided having an extension to close one of the open ends of the cavitywhen the cover is mounted to the housing. A further aspect of thepresent invention relates to a method of attaching power input cables toa power distribution panel using a power input assembly including ahousing with an open ended cavity divided by a centerwall into power andreturn chambers with conductors mounted within each chamber and a coverfor the housing having an extension to close one of the open ends of thecavity when the cover is mounted to the housing. The cables are led intoeither one of the open ends and the cover is used to close off the otheropen end.

[0005] A variety of advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent fromthe description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. It is tobe understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of theinvention and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is asfollows:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a powerdistribution panel in accordance with the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the power distribution of FIG. 1, withthe mounting flanges removed.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a front view of the power distribution panel of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a top view of the power distribution panel of FIG. 1with the top cover removed.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a power input housing inaccordance with the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the power input housing ofFIG. 5.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a front view of the power input housing of FIG. 5.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a rear view of the power input housing of FIG. 5.

[0015]FIG. 9 is a top view of the power input housing of FIG. 5.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the power input housing ofFIG. 8 taken along line A-A.

[0017]FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of an alternative power inputhousing in accordance with the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the power input housing ofFIG. 11.

[0019]FIG. 13 is a front view of the power input housing of FIG. 11.

[0020]FIG. 14 is a rear view of the power input housing of FIG. 11.

[0021]FIG. 15 is a side view of the power input housing of FIG. 11.

[0022]FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the power input housing ofFIG. 14 taken along line A-A.

[0023]FIG. 17 is an exploded rear view of a power input assembly inaccordance with the present invention with the cover positioned forentry of power cables from above the assembly.

[0024]FIG. 18 is a rear view of the power input assembly of FIG. 17 withthe cover removed.

[0025]FIG. 19 is a side view of the power input assembly of FIG. 18.

[0026]FIG. 20 is a top view of the power input assembly of FIG. 18.

[0027]FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of a cover for a power inputassembly in accordance with the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 22 is a rear view of the cover of FIG. 21.

[0029]FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 21.

[0030]FIG. 24 is a rear perspective view of an alternative powerdistribution bus in accordance to the present invention for use with thepower distribution panel of FIG. 1.

[0031]FIG. 25 is a top view of the power distribution bus of FIG. 24.

[0032]FIG. 26 is a front perspective view of the power distribution busof FIG. 24.

[0033]FIG. 27 is a front perspective view of a portion of the powerdistribution bus of FIG. 24.

[0034]FIG. 28 is a rear perspective view of the portion of the powerdistribution bus of FIG. 26.

[0035]FIG. 29 is a front view of the portion of the power distributionbus of FIG. 26.

[0036]FIG. 30 is a rear view of the portion of the power distributionbus of FIG. 26.

[0037]FIG. 31 is a top view of the portion of the power distribution busof FIG. 26.

[0038]FIG. 32 is a bottom view of the portion of the power distributionbus of FIG. 26.

[0039]FIG. 33 is a rear perspective view of the power output assembly ofFIG. 1.

[0040]FIG. 34 is a top view of the power output assembly of FIG. 33.

[0041]FIG. 35 is a front perspective view of the power output assemblyof FIG. 33.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Reference will now be ma de in detail to exemplary aspects of thepresent invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0043] To prevent accidental contact with the power and return powerleads supplying electrical power to a power distribution panel 1, apower input assembly 10 is provided about each power input location.Assembly 10 is designed to provide separation and isolation of the poweror battery and return leads from each other and prevent people and/orother devices from contacting the leads and receiving an electricalshock, causing harm to personnel or property.

[0044] Internally, due to the amount of current in the powerdistribution buses 60 and 160, some shielding of the individual powerleads 166 prevents unwanted arcing or current induction between adjacentleads. This shielding can be accomplished by coating the leads with anelectrically insulative material or by providing sufficient separationof the leads. Providing separation of leads 166 also provides improvedaccess to components within panel 1 for users.

[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a power distribution panel 1with two power busses and two power input assemblies 10 installed isshown. A first power input assembly 10 is shown with cover 14 in placeand a second assembly 10 is shown with cover 14 removed. Panel 1includes a housing with a rear face 28, a front face 34, a top 26, abottom 44 and two opposing sides 20. Mounted to each side 20 proximatefront face 34 are mounting flanges 18 for mounting panel 1 to atelecommunications equipment rack. Because telecommunications equipmentracks vary in width, flanges 18 include several columns of mountingholes and may be mounted in different orientations. Flange 18 includeslong side 21 and short side 19. Long side 21 includes two columns ofmounting holes 23 and 24. Short side 19 includes a single column ofmounting holes 22. Panel 1 can be mounted to a variety of differentwidth mounting racks by altering the orientation of flanges 18 mountedon either side 20 of panel 1. For example, mounting flanges 18 withshort flange 19 adjacent both sides 20 would allow panel 1 to mounted toa relatively wider rack, while mounting flanges 18 with long side 21adjacent sides 20 would permit panel 1 to be mounted to a relativelynarrower rack. Additional sizes and configurations of flanges 18 areanticipated which would permit panel 1 to be mounted totelecommunications racks of different widths.

[0046] Mounted to rear face 28 are two sets of power output terminals12. Output terminals 12 are then connected to the power input terminalsof telecommunications devices to supply power to those devices. In FIGS.2 and 4, one of the sets of output terminals 12 is covered by aprotective housing 16 to prevent accidental contact with the terminals.Chassis grounds 30 are provided on rear face 28 and allow panel 1 to beelectrically connected to a ground. Panel 1 includes an internalcircuitry which senses interruptions or other problems with the powerflowing through the panel. This circuitry is tied to an alarm which canprovide a visible, audible or electronic signal when a power flowproblem is detected. The electronic alarm signals allow the alarm statusof a power panel to be remotely or centrally monitored. Power alarmconnector 32 is provided on rear face 28 for the transmission of theelectronic signals for remote or central monitoring.

[0047] On the front face of panel 1 are circuit breakers 38 and fuses 42to provide protection for the equipment to which panel 1 is supplyingpower. Additional breaker locations 36 are available to allow morebreakers to be mounted to panel 1. Circuit breakers 38 couldalternatively replaced by fuses. Signal lamps 40 are connected with thealarm in panel 1 to provide the visible signal if a power flow problemis detected. Holder 46 is provided on front face 34 to maintain indiciaregarding the devices which are being supplied power by panel 1.

[0048] Power input assembly 10 includes a power conductor 52 with posts48 and a return conductor 54 with posts 50. Conductors 52 and 54 areattached to buses 60 inside panel 1. Posts 48 are connected with thepower terminal of the power source supplying panel 1 and posts 50 areconnected with the return terminal of the power source supplying thepanel. Posts 48 are electrically connected to conductor 52, which are inturn electrically connected with a power bus end 56 of bus 60. Posts 50are electrically connected to conductor 54, which are in turnelectrically connected with a return bus end 58 of bus 60.

[0049] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 10, assembly 10 includes ahousing 70 with opposing sidewalls 72, a base 76 extending between thesidewalls and a centerwall 74 parallel to the sidewalls and generallybisecting the base into two halves. In centerwall 74 is an opening 94for receiving a fastener holding cover 14 in place on housing 70.Between sidewalls 72 on either side of centerwall 74 are definedcavities 71 and 77 for receiving power cables from an external powersupply. Each sidewall 72 has a first end 73 and a second end 75. Betweenfirst ends 72 is endwall 88 which cooperates with base 76 to formconductor openings 78 proximate first ends 73. Likewise, between secondends 75 is endwall 88 which cooperates with base 76 to form conductoropenings 78 proximate second ends 75. Extending from each endwall 88 ismounting tab 80, which include openings 82 to receive fasteners such asscrews to mount housing 70 to rear face 28. Along endwalls 88 oppositebase 76 are openings 92, which receive fasteners such as screws forholding conductors 52 and 54 to housing 70, as is discussed below. Alongthe bottom of base 76 and extending between the opposing sidewalls 72and opposing endwalls 88 are reinforcing ribs 84. Ribs 84 provide addedstrength and stiffness to housing 70. Likewise, along the bottom ofmounting tabs 80 are reinforcing ribs 86, and extending from the top ofbase 76 along centerwall 74 are reinforcing ribs 96. Proximate thejunctions of endwalls 88 and reinforcing rib 84 are opening 90 forreceiving fasteners such as screws.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 5 though 10, mounting tabs 80 are locatedproximate conductor openings 78, and cavities 71 and 77 are oriented toreceive power cables from above or below panel 1. As shown in FIG. 1,housing 70 is mounted to rear face 28 so that mounting tabs 80 are onthe inside of panel 1 and sidewalls 72 and centerwall 74 extend throughrear face 28 outside of panel 1. Mounting openings 15 in rear face 28are located above and below housing 70 and are located so that afastener such as a screw can be inserted through an opening 15 andengage opening 82 to hold housing 70 to rear face 28.

[0051] Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 16, housing 170 is shown.Housing 170 is similarly constructed to housing 70, with mounting tabs80 located on different opposing walls. If housing 170 were mounted torear face 28 of panel 1, cavities 71 and 77 would be oriented to receivepower cables from either the left side or right side of panel 1. Bothhousing 70 and housing 170 are made of electrically insulative material.

[0052] Referring now to FIGS. 17 through 20, a power input assembly isshown. In FIG. 17, conductors 52 and 54 include of a first leg 106, across leg 108 and a second leg 110. First and second legs 106 and 110extend through openings 78 of housing 70 and cross leg 108 lies alongthe top of base 76. Conductor 52 is placed within cavity 71 andconductor 54 is placed within cavity 77. Posts 48 extend from cross leg108 of conductor 52 opposite base 76 and posts 50 extend from cross leg108 of conductor 54 opposite base 76. Second leg 110 and first leg 106include openings 102. Fasteners such as screws 100 are inserted throughopenings 92 in endwalls 88 and engage openings 102, holdings the strapsto housing 70. Proximate an end of second leg 110 opposite cross leg 108are openings 104 for attaching and electrically connecting conductor 52to power bus end 56 of bus 60, and for attaching and electricallyconnecting conductor 54 to return bus end 58 of bus 60. Conductors 52and 54 are held by housing 70 and are separated from potential contactby centerwall 74.

[0053]FIGS. 21 through 23 show cover 14. References to housing 70 areintended to apply also for housing 170. Cover 14 includes a top 120 anda lower extension 122. Top 120 is sized to fit on housing 70 coveringcavities 71 and 77, so that ledges 126 rest just outside of the top ofsidewalls 72, extension 122 is proximate one of first end 73 or secondend 75 of sidewalls 72 and ledge 134 is at the other of first end 73 orsecond end 75. When mounted to housing 70, extension 122 extends betweensidewalls 72 across both cavities 71 and 77 and between top 120 andendwall 88. Ledges 124 rest just outside of first or second ends 73 or75 of sidewalls 72 when cover 14 is mounted to housing 70. Ledge 134extends between parallel to extension 122 on the opposite open end ofhousing 70 but does not extend far enough to close the open end. In thisposition, cover 14 closes off access to cavities 71 and 77 from the rearand from one of the two ends. Ledges 126 and 134 are shown as the samesize but may be of different sizes. Ledges 126 may extend up to the sameextent as extension 122 while ledge 134 may not be made so large as toblock the open end opposite extension 122.

[0054] Mounting opening 128 in top 120 includes a narrow end 130 and awide end 132. Opening 128 is sized and located to receive a fastenerextending from opening 94 in housing 70 to hold cover 14 to housing 70.The shape of opening 128 is sized to allow cover 14 to be removed fromhousing 70 without completely removing the screw from opening 94. Narrowend 130 and wide end 132 are oriented to be generally parallel to ledges126.

[0055] Cover 14 and housing 70 are designed so that cover 14 may bemounted to housing 70 with extension 122 at either first end 73 orsecond end 75 of sidewalls 72. This will permit power supply cables froman external power source to enter from above or below as theinstallation environment dictates without requiring a different versionof cover 14 for each direction of entry. With regard to housing 170,power cables can enter the housing from either end and cover 14 will beinstalled with extension 122 covering the opposite end. Cover 14 is madeof an electrically insulative material.

[0056] Referring now to FIGS. 24 through 26, an alternative powerdistribution bus 160 is shown. Bus 160 shown would be used in place ofthe right-side bus 60 in FIG. 4, above, and includes the same rear powerinput assembly 10 and rear power output assembly 12. Power conductor 42is electrically connected with power bus end 56, which in turn feeds thepower into a protective device mount 162. Protective device mount 162permits protective devices such as circuit breakers 38 to be mounted inthe electrical path. Leads 166 carry the power from protective devicemount 162 to offset connectors 168 and 170 of power output assembly 12.Offset connectors 168 and 170 are configured to allow adjacent leads 166to connect with rear output assembly 12 in staggered columns. Threeoffset connectors 168 are located in a first column and three offsetconnectors 170 are located in a second column. This offsetting ofadjacent leads and power output connectors provides added space betweenthe connections. This added space reduces the possibility of current inone lead inducing current in an adjacent lead in the area of theconnection with power output assembly 12. Leads 166 as shown are craftedfrom bar stock. To reduce corrosion and other related occurrences, thisbar stock may be plated with tin, lead or another suitable material.

[0057] Referring now to FIGS. 27 through 32, protective device mount 162and leads 166 are shown with the other components of power distributionbus 160 removed. Leads 166 are individually numbered as leads 171through 176, with lead 171 being the topmost lead and lead 176 being thebottommost lead. Leads 171, 173, and 175 are configured to connect withoffset connectors 168 of power output assembly 12, while leads 172, 174and 176 are configured to connect with offset connectors 170. Each ofthe leads is comprised of five sections, 181, 183, 185, 187 and 189,connected at four angles, 182, 184, 186 and 188. A connector section 181of each lead 171 through 176 is electrically attached to protectivedevice mount 162. An angle 182 then links connector segment 181 with ariser segment 183. An angle 184 in turn connects riser segment 183 witha twisted segment 185. An angle 186 connects twisted segment 185 with atransverse segment 187. An angle 188 connects transverse segment 187with output connector segment 189. Posts 190 are mounted on outputconnector segments 189 to the electrical and physical contact betweenleads 166 and offset connectors 168 and 170. Posts 192 are mounted onconnector segment 181 to improve electrical and physical contact betweenleads 166 and protective device mount 162.

[0058] Referring now to FIGS. 33 through 35, output power assembly 12 isshown in greater detail, with leads 166 removed. Output power assembly12 includes an output housing 206 with an inner face 208 and an outerface 210. Return terminals 200 and battery terminals 202 are in parallelcolumns on outer face 210 and located to different planes, 212 and 214,respectively, to provide separation and improved organization of batteryand return cables from telecommunications equipment receiving power frompanel 1.

[0059] As shown, output power assembly 12 is configured to supply powerto six such devices, having six pairs of battery terminals 202 and sixpairs of return terminals 200. Alternative configurations having more orfewer pairs of terminals can be used depending on size constraints andthe number of devices requiring power. Output housing 206 is a uni-bodyhousing, so that the same housing includes provisions for both batteryand return terminals.

[0060] Terminals 200 and 202 are grouped in pairs to improve the qualityand physical surface area of contact between the cables to and from thedevices and the terminals, and to prevent rotation of the cablesattached to the terminals. Return terminals 200 are all linked to acommon return strap 204 which extends through output housing 206 fromouter face 210 beyond inner face 208. When output power assembly 12 ismounted to panel 1, return strap 204 is electrically connected to returnbus end 58.

[0061] Each pair of battery terminals 202 are connected to a conductorstrap 220 which extends through output housing 206 from outer face 210beyond inner face 208 and includes an offset connector 168 or 170. Asdetailed above, offset connectors 168 and 170 are electrically connectedwith segments 189 of leads 166 when output power assembly 12 is mountedto panel 1.

[0062] Flanges 216 and fastener openings 218 are provided on outputhousing 206 to allow power output assembly 12 to be securely andremovably fastened to rear face 28 of panel 1, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0063] Having described preferred aspects and embodiments of the presentinvention, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts mayreadily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended thatsuch modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of theclaims which are appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power input housing for a power distributionpanel comprising: a body defining a cavity having a first open end and asecond open end, the body including a base, opposing sidewalls extendingfrom the base and a center wall extending from the base; a removablecover mounted to the body; the cavity being defined by the sidewalls,the base and the removable cover, and being divided longitudinally bythe center wall, the center wall substantially parallel to thesidewalls, the sidewalls and base each having a first end adjacent andpartially defining the first open end and each having a second endadjacent and partially defining the second open end; the base havingaccess openings at the first and second ends of the cavity on both sidesof the center wall to permit electrical conductors to pass through thebase; the cover having a major surface and a transverse extension, thecover being mountable in either a first position or a second position onthe housing, such that when the cover is mounted in the first positionthe transverse extension closes off the first open end of the cavity andthe second open end remains open, and when the cover is mounted in thesecond position the transverse extension of the cover closes off thesecond open end of the cavity and the first open end remains open; amounting tab projecting outward from the base including a fasteneropening; and the body and the cover being made of an electricallyinsulative material.
 2. The power input housing of claim 1, wherein thecavity is an outer cavity, and further comprising an inner cavity; theinner cavity defined by an extension of the sidewalls, with the base ofthe body positioned between the outer and inner cavities, wherein endsof the inner cavity closed by a pair of opposing end walls, the endwalls extending from the base proximate the first and second open endsof the outer cavity; the access openings in the base of the bodyproviding access to the inner cavity.
 3. The power input housing ofclaim 2, wherein the mounting tab is a first mounting tab, and furthercomprising a second mounting tab, wherein the first and second mountingtabs project outward from the sidewalls.
 4. The power input housing ofclaim 2, wherein the mounting tab is a first mounting tab, and furthercomprising a second mounting tab, wherein the first and second mountingtabs project outward from the end walls.
 5. The power input housing ofclaim 2, wherein the cover has four sides, the transverse extensionpositioned along one side, and further comprising a lip extending fromthe major surface along each of the other three sides.
 6. The powerinput housing of claim 5, wherein the transverse extension includesfirst and second side lips.
 7. The power input housing of claim 2,wherein the major surface of the removable cover includes a fastenerhole.
 8. A power distribution panel comprising: a panel housingincluding a front and a rear; the front including circuit controldevices; the rear including a power input assembly and a power outputassembly; the power input assembly including first and second parallelchannels each defining first and second open ends, and a cover includinga major surface and a transverse extension, the cover mountable in oneof two selectable positions wherein in the first position the first openends are closed and in the second position the second open ends areclosed.
 9. The power distribution panel of claim 8, wherein the powerinput assembly includes first and second outer walls, and an innercenter wall between the first and second outer walls, the first andsecond outer walls and the inner wall defining the first and secondparallel channels.
 10. The power distribution panel of claim 9, whereinthe inner wall defines a first fastener opening, and the cover defines asecond fastener opening alignable with the first fastener opening ineither of two selectable positions of the cover.
 11. The powerdistribution panel of claim 9, wherein the cover has four sides, thetransverse extension positioned along one side, and further comprising alip extending from the major surface along each of the other threesides.
 12. The power distribution panel of claim 11, wherein thetransverse extension includes first and second side lips.
 13. The powerdistribution panel of claim 8, wherein the cover has four sides, thetransverse extension positioned along one side, and further comprising alip extending from the major surface along each of the other threesides.
 14. The power distribution panel of claim 13, wherein thetransverse extension includes first and second side lips.
 15. The powerdistribution panel of claim 8, wherein the power input assembly includesmounting tabs defining fastener holes for mounting the power inputassembly to the rear of the panel housing.
 16. A power input assemblycomprising: a housing including a cavity, the cavity defined by opposingsidewalls, a base and a removable cover, the cavity having a first openend and an opposite second open end; the cavity including alongitudinally extending power chamber and a longitudinally extendingreturn chamber; the power chamber having a conductor which passesthrough the base of the cavity and adapted for receiving a conductorfrom a power terminal of an electrical power source, and the returnchamber having a conductor which passes through the base of the cavityand adapted for receiving a conductor from a return terminal of theelectrical power source; the cover having a transverse extension andbeing mountable in either a first position or a second position on thehousing, such that when the cover is mounted in the first position thetransverse extension closes off the first open end of cavity and thesecond open end of the cavity remains open, and when the cover ismounted in the second position the transverse extension closes off thesecond open of the cavity and the first open end remains open.
 17. Thepower input assembly of claim 16, further comprising wires from theelectrical power source, wherein the wires extend through one of thefirst and second open ends of the cavity and are attached to theconductors, and the cover is mounted in the second or the firstposition, respectively.
 18. The power input assembly of claim 16,wherein the housing includes a mounting tab projecting outward from thebase.
 19. The power input assembly of claim 16, wherein the housingincludes two mounting tabs, with one mounting tab extending from thebase proximate the first open end and one mounting tab extending fromthe base proximate the second open end.
 20. The power input assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the housing includes two mounting tabs, with onemounting tab extending from the base proximate each of the sidewalls.21. A method of attaching power cables to a power distribution device,the method comprising the steps of: providing a power input assemblymounted to the power distribution panel, the power input assemblyincluding: a housing including a cavity having a first open end and asecond open end on opposite sides of the housing; the cavity defining apower chamber having a conductor which passes into the powerdistribution panel for connecting with a wire from a power terminal ofan electrical power source, and a return chamber having a conductorwhich passes into the power distribution panel for connecting with awire from a return terminal of an electrical power source; positioningpower and return cables in the respective first and second open ends ofthe housing; attaching the power cable to the conductor in the powerchamber; attaching the return cable to the conductor in the returnchamber; and placing a cover on the housing wherein the cover has atransverse extension to close off the other of the first and second openends of the cavity.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first andsecond open ends are oriented vertically.
 23. The method of claim 21,wherein the first and second open ends are oriented horizontally.